ThinkingAfield.org

MILES CITY – Habitat conditions in much of southeastern Montana are considerably better than a couple years ago, when the landscape was severely impacted by drought. However, there was very little snow this past winter, which resulted in low winter mortality for many wildlife species but conversely results in very little moisture going into the spring. Much of the region received early summer rainfall this year, which improved habitat conditions across much of the region. But July was extremely hot and dry, which has deteriorated habitat conditions.

Elk

The two core elk populations in the region remain in hunting district (HD) 700 and the Southeastern Montana Elk Management Unit (HDs 702, 704, 705). Access remains challenging, especially in HD 702, where most of the elk occur on private land. Outside of these areas (in HDs 701 and 703), elk numbers are generally low, but numbers have been increasing at a moderate rate, accompanied by a gradual expansion of elk into previously unoccupied habitat.

FWP biologists have observed strong elk numbers and calf recruitment in the Southeastern Montana Elk Management Unit and the bull:cow ratio is at objective (30:-45) as well. In HD 700 the total amount of elk observed during recent surveys decreased and there was a dip in the calf recruitment, too. In HD 700, both the ratio of 25 bulls:100 cows and total observed elk are below objective.

Elk hunters should get familiar with the regulations as they vary across HDs within the region.

Mule deer

Mule deer numbers improved by 15 percent from 2025 and are currently approximately 17 percent below the long-term average across Region 7. The region-wide adult:fawn ratio was 55 fawns per 100 adults, indicating favorable recruitment. Limited winter snowfall resulted in relatively low winter mortality, although the lack of snowpack provided little moisture going into spring. Warm and dry spring conditions limited early-season forage, but early-summer rainfall substantially improved forage conditions across much of the region during the fawning period. Extremely hot and dry conditions in July reduced these benefits and caused forage conditions to decline through the latter part of the summer. Overall, favorable winter survival, improved forage conditions during the fawning period and good recruitment contributed to continued improvement in mule deer numbers across the region. While overall mule deer numbers remain below the long-term average in Region 7, some areas are showing continued signs of recovery.

Antlerless mule deer license quotas remained unchanged from 2025, however hunters are strongly encouraged to review all current regulations prior to hunting this season.

White-tailed deer Read more

Deer seasons are getting underway in Michigan, and whether you hunt the Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula or southern Lower Peninsula, conditions can look very different from one part of the state to another.

Department of Natural Resources deer staffers have pulled together the latest information on deer populations and habitat conditions across the state, along with important things hunters should know this year. The preview includes:

• What last winter and this year’s weather and food conditions could mean for deer and hunting this fall.
• Regional observations on fawn recruitment, antler development and deer numbers.
• Important 2026 regulation changes, including changes to antlerless hunting opportunities and December firearm seasons.
• Chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis testing information.
• Resources to help you find a place to hunt and plan your season.

Conditions and hunting opportunities vary considerably across Michigan, so check out the information for the part of the state where you hunt.

Deer hunting preview ?

Sept. 10, 2026
Contact: Eric Hilliard, 517-281-5607

GW:  If you are a Michigan outdoors person, this interactive mapping can be very helpful.

Build-your-own approach puts hunters in control of what shows up on the map

Michigan hunters planning a fall trip have a rebuilt tool to work with. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has launched a new version of MiHunt, the state’s interactive map of lands open to public hunting, available at Michigan.gov/MiHunt.

The map is live just in time for the fall hunting seasons.

“We wanted hunters to build their own adventure rather than be handed a finished one,” said Sarah Mayhew, a data specialist for the DNR Wildlife Division. “The map opens with lands open to public hunting and nothing else. Everything beyond that is up to you.”

This approach does more than clean up the mapping process. Because hunters turn on each layer themselves, they know exactly what they are looking at and why it is there. Nothing appears on the map that the hunter did not ask for.

Some layers hunters can switch on include:

• Species management unit boundaries.
• Cover type layers showing forest makeup.
• Land management agencies.
• Special hunting areas, including Hunting Access Program properties, Turkey Tracts and Grouse Enhanced Management Sites.

Hunters can also bring their own information to the map. MiHunt now accepts imported spatial data, so a hunter can add a property boundary, a set of waypoints or last season’s tracks and view it alongside DNR-provided layers. Imported data is visible only to the person who adds it. Read more